The agreement, signed today during the Heli-Expo 2015 industry convention in Orlando, Florida, marks Norsk luftambulanse’s latest acquisition of Airbus Helicopters’ lightweight twin-engine rotorcraft – with its current inventory consisting of 13 H135s and two H145s.

“Norsk luftambulanse is recognized for operational expertise and the focus on continually upgrading its operations to set the standards in helicopter emergency medical services,” explained Jacques Cardaillac, Airbus Helicopters’ Head of Sales for Northern Europe and the Benelux countries. “This latest H135 order is another endorsement of the Norsk luftambulanse’s confidence in our products and services.”

With bases in Norway and Denmark, Norsk luftambulanse is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Norsk Luftambulanse Foundation, whose mission is to develop air ambulance services through research and development activities, education and national collaborative projects.

“Our new order with Airbus Helicopters will ensure that we continue operating aircraft with the latest technologies and the most advanced mission capabilities,” said Norsk luftambulanse CEO Syver Leivestad.

The H135 is a helicopter of reference for air ambulance operators worldwide. It combines a wide, unobstructed cabin with excellent performance, range and payload capacity – along with low-noise operations. The oversized sliding side doors and rear clamshell doors enable fast loading/unloading of patients, with additional safety during ground operations provided by Airbus Helicopter’s signature shrouded Fenestron® tail rotor.

Airbus Helicopters’ H135 designation for this twin-engine rotorcraft – previously known as the EC135 –reflects the new numbering of its product lines as part of the company’s identity within the Airbus Group.

Airbus Helicopters is a division of Airbus Group, a global pioneer in aerospace and defense related services. Airbus Helicopters is the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer and employs more than 23,000 people worldwide. With 44 percent market share in civil and parapublic sectors, the company’s fleet in service includes some 12,000 helicopters operated by more than 3,000 customers in more than 150 countries. Airbus Helicopters’ international presence is marked by its 29 customer centers and participations and its worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents. Airbus Helicopters’ range of civil and military helicopters is the world’s largest; its aircraft account for one third of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. The company’s chief priority is to ensure the safe operation of its aircraft for the thousands of people who fly more than 3 million hours per year.